TideBreak

The water is rising. Who gets help first?

TideBreak is a coastal rescue game about clear decisions under pressure. Filter a noisy radio feed, check conflicting reports and send limited rescue resources where they matter. Every order has a visible consequence, and a final review helps you plan a better next shift.

Play the current browser prototype · No installation needed.

Presentation

Slides: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHVsAZGnzo/QSTW0Snxo7qopIriZ3bqwQ/edit

Game: https://game-jam-2q1t.onrender.com/

Amendment: Tsunami Watch — Pelagos Command

The challenge

Created for Defense Tech Jam 2026 and the challenge “Decisions, Decisions, Decisions All Around!” The game explores a defense-relevant problem: managing uncertain information and delegating tasks when time and resources are limited.

How to play

1. Read the radio. Find the reported location, people at risk and urgency.
2. Choose a response. Assign an available rescue unit and send it to the right location.
3. Check conflicting evidence. Use a drone, correct a location or archive a duplicate. Verification gives you information; you still need to dispatch help.
4. Watch the result. Follow unit routes and fleet availability as your orders take effect.
5. Review your shift. See who reached safety and which decisions you would change.

What makes it different?

• Information is part of the challenge. Useful calls compete with distractions and uncertain reports.
• Delegate with care. Ground teams, boats and helicopters have different jobs, and busy units cannot be everywhere.
• See cause and effect. Moving units, corrected map pins and the final review connect decisions to outcomes.
• Replay and reflect. Try a different approach in a short, roughly six-minute scenario.

Five-minute walkthrough

Watch the narrated five-minute walkthrough (1080p). Large captions and action spotlights show what to do and how each operation changes the situation. The recording uses the prototype title Pelagos Command.

Meet the team

• Anna Melomed: (Team Leader) . Idea and implementation planning, final page design, presentation design.
• Zirui (Zoey) Wang: Idea and implementation planning and execution. Created narrative and game strategy. Managed online workflow and merged changes.
• Zhiqi Zhang: Map design, ui design, idea and implementation planning and execution. 
• WenYung (Wen) Liao: Idea and implementation planning and execution, filtering choices for information. 
• Yutong (Milla) Liu: Team management, idea and implementation  planning, presentation design and workflow. 
• Jeremy SpiceHandler:Idea and implementation planning, audio design, ui choices, presentation choices, information gathering.
• Zexi Zhang: Idea and implementation planning and execution, final page design.
• Shuchang (Mason) Li: Phone sizing, presentation creation, merge workflow.

Feedback welcome: leave a comment on this page to reach the project team.